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Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday, March 1,
2022
I had the fun of holding these two baby goats late yesterday afternoon on the Old Windmill Farm. This was possible because Brooksyne wasn't with me. She always gets the goats first and treats them like puppies.
"Spring!"
Message
summary: Today with so much uncertainty in
world affairs let us indeed, "acknowledge the LORD; let
us press on to acknowledge Him."
"For
behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has
come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our
land" (Song of Solomon 2:11,12). "Let us
acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him.
As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come
to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that
water the earth" (Hosea 6:3).
Today is the first day of Spring!
O, you are mistaken, you might be thinking; the first day of
Spring is still nearly three weeks away on Sunday, March 20, at
precisely 11:33 A.M. EDT. (Well, most people don't actually pay
attention to the precise time.) Indeed March 20 is the first day
of astronomical spring which correlates with the vernal
equinox, when the sun is directly over the equator. And for most
of my life this is the day I have considered the first day of
Spring.
But today, March 1, is the first
day of meteorological spring which runs from March 1
through May 31. Meteorological spring is based on the annual
temperature cycle and astronomical spring is based on the position
of the Earth in relation to the sun.
Think about it; spring-like
weather begins in early March, summer-like weather begins in early
June, autumn-like in early September and winter-like weather
appears in early December.
Today we sure have spring-like
weather. Spring bulbs are popping up all around us. The
snowdrop bulbs are already blooming and most likely others we've
not yet seen. It's projected to be 53° today and
sunny so that's fine with us. It's getting more and more
suitable for outdoor activities like bike riding, especially for
Brooksyne who "shuns" the cold whenever possible.
I don't recall hearing the concept
of meteorological spring until the last several years but it makes
sense to me and I like it! I enjoy living in a four season climate
but winter is the one I prefer to end quickest.
Let's consider a
couple of verses that refer to spring:
Today's first verse is from the
Song of Solomon, a rather frank love letter. This verse shares the
seasonal change, "For behold, the winter is past; the rain is
over and gone". This is written from the perspective of an
area that has seasonal rainy and dry seasons unlike where we live
when we get rain throughout the year.
"The flowers appear on the
earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the
turtledove is heard in our land." Now that sure describes
this spring season! A few flowers have already started budding
this spring season. It's not unusual for us to break into song,
although singing is appropriate all year, including the winter
season. And we begin to hear the "voices" of more and more birds
early in the day.
The second verse is our main focus
today. It begins "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on
to acknowledge Him". Hosea, one of the minor prophets wrote
this some 2700 years ago calling the people to join him (let us)
in acknowledging the LORD. I wonder if Hosea had memorized a verse
many of us know from Proverbs which was likely written several
hundred years earlier, "Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs
3:5,6).
What does "acknowledge" mean? It
means to accept or admit God's existence and His truth, to know
Him. It means that we recognize He is God, and accept His
authority in our life.
"Let us press on to
acknowledge Him". Yesterday a radio announcer on our local
Christian radio station closed off her program by saying, "signing
off but pressing on". "Let us press on to acknowledge Him"
seems to refer to steadfastness in a quest to acknowledge the
Lord.
"As surely as the sun rises,
He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like
the spring rains that water the earth." This verse uses the
certainties of nature, including the rising sun and the winter and
spring rains to illustrate the certainty that He will appear and
come to those who acknowledge Him.
Today with so much uncertainty in
world affairs let us indeed, "acknowledge the LORD; let us
press on to acknowledge Him."
Be encouraged
today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, as we are nearing the
end of the winter season we are delighted to
feel and see the signs of spring; the warming
air, the songbirds making their spring debut,
the bulbs popping up out of the cold
ground bursting into color, people spending
more time outdoors. Even as the earth is being
renewed with new life we want to renew our
hearts and follow hard after You. We
acknowledge You as the very reason we exist
and we want to press on in our commitment to
follow hard after You. And as we follow hard
after You we continue to be burden bearers
praying for those in need like the people of
Ukraine who are in dire need of Your help as
they face a David/Goliath battle. So many
major needs arise such as protection against
their enemies and arsenal, food provisions,
transportation, sanitation, lodging provisions
for those seeking refuge and so much more. We
pray for family members desperate to hear of
their loved one's safety. May this also be a
time that those in dangerous settings
recognize their greatest need is to follow
after You as we also pray for peace in Ukraine
and that region of the world. In the name of
Jesus we pray. Amen.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, as we are nearing the
end of the winter season we are delighted to
feel and see the signs of spring; the warming
air, the songbirds making their spring debut,
the bulbs popping up out of the cold
ground bursting into color, people spending
more time outdoors. Even as the earth is being
renewed with new life we want to renew our
hearts and follow hard after You. We
acknowledge You as the very reason we exist
and we want to press on in our commitment to
follow hard after You. And as we follow hard
after You we continue to be burden bearers
praying for those in need like the people of
Ukraine who are in dire need of Your help as
they face a David/Goliath battle. So many
major needs arise such as protection against
their enemies and arsenal, food provisions,
transportation, sanitation, lodging provisions
for those seeking refuge and so much more. We
pray for family members desperate to hear of
their loved one's safety. May this also be a
time that those in dangerous settings
recognize their greatest need is to follow
after You as we also pray for peace in Ukraine
and that region of the world. In the name of
Jesus we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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